Task-positive network

The task-positive network is a network of areas in the human brain that typically responds with activation increases to attention-demanding tasks in functional imaging studies.^[1] The task-positive network encompasses regions of the dorsal attention system, but in addition includes dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal regions, the insular cortex, and the supplementary motor area.^[1] Recent work indicates that the cerebellum may participate in this network as well.^[2][3] Notably, the nodes of this network are also correlated during rest (i.e., in the absence of any task).^[1] The task-positive network is anti-correlated with the default mode network.^[1][4] Competing activation between the task-positive network and the default mode network at the time of memory encoding has been shown to result in poor long-term memory consolidation.^[5] During rest the task-positive network has been claimed to subserve intermittent "external awareness", defined as the conscious perception through different sensory modalities of one's surrounding environment^{[further explanation needed]}.^[6]

Function

During performance of attention-demanding tasks, prefrontal and parietal structures that comprise the task-positive network are characterized by increases in activation; in contrast, default mode network structures, including posterior cingulate^{[further explanation needed]} and medial prefrontal cortices, are characterized by decreased activity. During wakeful rest, the opposite pattern emerges, with the default mode network becoming more active and the task-positive network less active.^[7]

References

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